New Howmet Theater manager has lengthy resume, experience

December 15, 2006
By Eric Gaertner
Chronicle Staff Writer

Muskegon professional actor and Muskegon Community College theater instructor Tom Harryman was there when the curtain closed on the Howmet Playhouse's 33-year run under Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp ownership, directing the final production in August.

He also will certainly be there when the historic, 90-year-old downtown Whitehall theater reopens under a new owner.

Harryman, who was managing director of the Frauenthal Center for the Performing Arts for 13 years, was selected from a group of applicants as manager of the Howmet Playhouse now owned by the city of Whitehall. The city council approved Harryman's hiring Tuesday, following the candidate's negotiations with City Manager Scott Huebler.

"Primarily, his experience and his enthusiasm stood out," Huebler said. "He's really excited to make this work for the community."

A special committee, consisting of Mayor Mac Hatch and councilmen Edd Whalen and Orville Smith, reviewed the eight management proposals and authorized Huebler to negotiate with their top candidate, Harryman. Whalen and Hatch pointed to Harryman's experiences in theater operations, building supervision, budgeting, development and fundraising as being ideal for the new city staff position.

"The man has such experiences," Whalen said. "He's so overly qualified, and we're so happy to have him."

"He's the most qualified," Hatch said. "I've known Tom for quite some time. We couldn't have found a better person."

Harryman has a master's degree in acting and has been an adjunct instructor at Muskegon Community College since 1999. He also is involved in theater direction, design and performance at the college's Overbrook Theater.

As Howmet Playhouse manager, Harryman will work a flexible schedule, including weekends and holidays, and will be paid in the salary range of $25,835 to $34,612, which was established by the city council.

"I look at this as an exciting challenge," Harryman said. "With the history of the theater, its setup and the interest from the community, it looks like a great situation to me. I directed the last show of last season, 'The Moon is Blue,' and fell in love with the place."

The city took ownership of the building and adjacent parking lot at 304 S. Mears last month, receiving it as a donation from Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp. The camp, which opened a new $1.8 million theater this year on its campus in Blue Lake Township, operated the Howmet Playhouse since 1973 and lost money every year.

The city plans to operate the playhouse year-round, hoping to increase revenues.

"It is a terrific opportunity for Whitehall to move the playhouse forward into a year-round operation," Harryman said. "The city of Whitehall and area residents up there get a chance to develop it into what they want it to be."

Harryman, who will start his new job Jan. 1, expects to begin the transition period by taking inventory of the equipment and accessing the facility. He said he wants to begin having productions as soon as possible, but only after everything is in place for quality shows.